Advocacy and Collaboration Projects

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is a major component of our work at Youth Advocate Program International. An “advocate”, simply defined, speaks or writes on behalf of an individual or a cause, defending or maintaining a position on an issue. At YAP International, we do this through various means, directly (through our various programs) and indirectly (by encouraging others to become their own best advocates).

participating on numerous committees and coalitions to shape strategy planning

developing and implementing national and international awareness campaigns

presenting lectures and seminars to groups and associations on child issues

consulting with agencies and organization on child rights and welfare issues

building networks of partners and sharing materials and resources

promoting child issues and lobbying internationally

Our Advocacy Issue Areas

For issue specific information on our advocacy efforts, click any of the issue areas listed the images on our homepage and read our issue booklets and reports.

Advocacy: Committees/Coalitions

The following is a current list of the national and international committees/coalitions on which we serve. We are also in the process of developing additional relationships to expand our efforts in providing feedback, sharing information, serving as advisors, assisting with program development, supporting campaigns, and offering our general assistance upon request, and as needed.

As a result of our knowledge and expertise, we are often asked to help organizations and agencies to assist them in strategy development, planning, and general consultation. – for more information, please contact us.

Click the right arrow on the boxes below to see lists of organizations we are currently working with or have worked with in the past.

Past Service on Committees/Campaigns

Child Labor Coalition (CLC)

National/International Legislation Sub-committee

Department of Labor (OSHA), Teen Worker Editorial Board

Global Campaign on Education (GCE)

International Advisory Committee to the Child Welfare League of America

International Advisory Committee to the Fair Labor Association

International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers (UK)

International Initiative against the Trafficking of Children *

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition

NGO Committee on UNICEF – NGO Global Forum

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Taskforce

U.N. Study on Violence against Children – North America Consultation Committee *

U.S. Campaign against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children *

U.S. Campaign for the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child *

Executive Steering Committee (as Committee Chair)

Education and Research Committee

Youth Participation Committee *

U.S. Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers *

(* co-founding member)

YAP International Partners List

The following is a brief list of some of the governmental, non-governmental, and inter-governmental organizations that we work with, have worked with, and in general we support their work. If we have accidentally omitted the name of your organization, please contact us.

AFL-CIO/Fields of Hope (child labor in agriculture)

American Anti-Slavery Group

American Bar Association

American Civil Liberties Union

American Federation of Teachers

American Friends Service Committee

Amnesty International

Anti-Slavery International

Association of Farm Worker Opportunity Programs (AFOP)

Casa Alianza

Center for Defense Information

Child Labor Coalition

Child Rights Information Network

Child Welfare League of America

Children of the Night

Coalition against Trafficking in Women (CATW)

Coalition for Juvenile Justice

Covenant House

DC Public Schools

ECPAT International

ECPAT-USA

Free the Children

Free the Slaves

Global March against Child Labor

HAQ (India)

Human Rights Watch

Immigration and Refugee Services of America

International Bureau for Children’s Rights

International Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

International Initiative to End Child Labor

International Justice Project

International Labor Organization (ILO)

International Labor Rights Fund

International Monetary Fund

International Rescue Committee

International Social Services (ISS)

International Youth Advocate Foundation

Interpol

Justice for Juveniles

Juvenile Law Center

Kosovo Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims

Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation

National Alliance to End Homelessness

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

National Coalition for the Homeless

National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

National Consumers League

National Education Association

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

NGO Committee on UNICEF

PLAN International

Polaris Project

Protection Project

Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society

Quaker UN Office

Refugee Council USA

Refugees International

RUGMARK Foundation

Save the Children

SOS Children’s Villages

Under Our Wings

UNHCR (UN High Commissioner on Refugees)

UNICEF

U.S. Campaign against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

U.S. Campaign for the Ratification of the CRC

U.S. Campaign to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

U.S. Committee for Refugees

U.S. Members of Congress

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Department of Treasury (Customs Service)

U.S. Fund for UNICEF

US Postal Service (Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)

Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children

World Bank

World Health Organization

World Organization Against Torture, USA

World Vision International

NGO Committee on UNICEF – Global Forum

YAP International was accepted to the NGO Committee on UNICEF. This status allows participation in UNICEF activities, and a voice and influence on issues affecting children worldwide. This new consultative status at UNICEF provides us with an outstanding opportunity to work alongside the most influencial child advocacy and welfare organizations to develop goals, strategies, and implement new plans around the world. We have actively participated in the NGO Committee’s Working Groups on the issues of Child Protection, Education, Girls, Child Development, and HIV/AIDS.

Created in 1952 the NGO Committee on UNICEF is a worldwide network of international NGOs that work on behalf of children in more than 110 countries. UNICEF is the United Nations organization whose primary purpose is to work in the interest of children, and also provides operating funds for numerous child protection projects. The NGO Committee currently consists of 100 NGOs, and provides a forum for substantive discussion about UNICEF policies, programs, and child-related issues. It is also dedicated to encouraging discussion and cooperation among NGOs at all levels.

The NGO Committee is based in New York and Geneva and there is an elected Board. The Board consists of a president, vice president, treasurer, regional and at-large representatives, and working group chairs.